Hot And Hearty Minestrone | Emerils.com

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 slices bacon or pancetta
• 1 large leek, white and light green parts only, split in half and rinsed very well under running water, thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
• 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 4 cups water
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
• 3/4 cup chopped carrots
• 3/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup dried Great Northern beans, picked over and soaked overnight or 1 (15-ounce) can white beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 Parmesan cheese rind, about 5 x 2 inches
• 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 1/4 cups cubed zucchini
• 2 medium new potatoes, scrubbed and cubed (about 6 ounces or 1 1/4 cups cubed)
• 1 teaspoon Baby Bam
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups packed fresh spinach leaves, washed, dried, and coarsely chopped